RE:VIEW
The Women’s World Cup has been beset with problems, not least from scheduling a number of games – as a consequence of geopolitical tensions between two nuclear powers – during monsoon season in Sri Lanka. Three Wisden writers assess what should have been done better, and what must happen next time
“Increase the number of teams, and change the format to two or three groups. It was wrong that there was no room for Hayley Matthews and the West Indies
KATYA WITNEY
YAS RANA
Wisden podcast host
The tournament structure is dull. For there to have been any serious edge towards the end of the group phase, one of the bottom four teams needed to challenge the likely semi-finalists – Australia, England, South Africa and India. Across 28 games – nearly a month’s worth of cricket – there wasn’t a single instance of one of the bottom four teams beating one of the top four. The rain didn’t help but there is a gulf in class that this tournament structure widens rather than closes.